An earthquake measuring 7.1 on the richter scale struck in Kermadec Islands region, located north of New Zealand. According to a statement by the USGS (US Geological Survey), the quake was about 10 km deep and there is a possibility for hazardous tsunami waves to be headed towards coasts located within 300 kilometres of the epicentre.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology said in a tweet, that there is no tsunami threat to Australia. Located in the convergence of the Pacific and Australian tectonic plates, New Zealand is highly susceptible to earthquakes. The island nation also falls on the periphery of the Ring of Fire, a region of heightened seismic activity.